KPK Reveals There Is A Quota For Health Hajj Officers To Be Sold To Prospective Congregants As A Result Of Decreasing Service Quality

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that quotas for Hajj implementing officers were also traded. This condition was found when investigators examined a number of witnesses related to alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"Regarding the sale and purchase of quotas for Hajj officers, investigators also found allegations of hajj quotas that should have been intended for officers, yes, such as companion officers, then health workers, or supervisors, and administration were also traded to prospective pilgrims," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, October 7.

Budi said this condition would have violated the rules. And of course then reduce the quality of Hajj services," he said.

"For example, what should be the allocation of health workers who will facilitate the health needs of these prospective pilgrims but then be traded to other prospective pilgrims, meaning that there are fewer health workers or other officers," he continued.

Budi said investigators continue to explore the findings regarding the sale and purchase of quotas for Hajj officers to prospective pilgrims. The process is carried out by examining travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj services (PIHK).

Yang tentu juga kondisinya berbeda-beda dari setiap bureau travel. Petugas apa yang dijual-belikan, berapa nilainya, ada yang memperjual-belikan, ada yang tidak, ada yang sesuai ketentuan beragam ini kondisinya, ujarnya.

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) will enter a new chapter. No suspects have been named for using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

The generalized sprindik uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there are state losses that occur due to this corrupt practice.

State losses in the corruption case of quota and Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion. This number is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

This case stems from the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce the queues of pilgrims. However, the distribution turned out to be problematic because it was divided equally, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj based on the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion signed by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

In fact, based on the law, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj.

Later, the distribution of problems was allegedly due to money from the Hajj and Umrah travel parties as well as the associations that oversee the Ministry of Religion. After getting the allotment, they sold the additional quota to prospective pilgrims.

During the investigation process, a number of parties have been questioned, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Investigators have also searched his house and found documents and electronic evidence that are suspected to be related.